Center for Equal Opportunity and Risk Management

The Center for Equal Opportunity and Risk Management (CEORM) work unit offers services to employees of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) in the areas of Civil Rights, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Risk Management, Safety, Workplace Violence, and Ergonomics. It researches and interprets the various Federal and State laws and develops CDHS policies and procedures that serve as the implementation base for consulting, advising, investigating and ensuring that the equal opportunity, civil rights, and safety of its clients and employees are protected.

CEORM provides oversight to the sixty-four county Department of Human Services relative to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It maintains a network of civil right contact persons, through which it coordinates compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

CEORM only provides services to county and CDHS employees and clients. If you are not a county or CDHS employee or client and would like to file a complaint, please contact the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

Colorado Civil Rights Division

1560 Broadway #1050

Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 894-2997 or (800) 262- 4845 (Toll Free)

CEORM assists CDHS in ensuring that civil rights claims of violations are handled consistently. It coordinates between CDHS, Appointing Authorities, and the Attorney General's office in investigating civil rights legal issues. This area also conducts internal investigations in allegations of unlawful discrimination and provides consultation to Appointing Authorities and Supervisors regarding the addressing of such matters. It also conducts Civil Rights training in compliance with applicable laws in the areas of prevention and compliance. This unit drafts the Departmental responses to all Requests For Information regarding allegations of discrimination from the Colorado Civil Rights Division, U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Health and Human Services.

CEORM coordinates the ADA for the Department. It coordinates between CDHS, Appointing Authorities, and Supervisors in reasonably accommodating qualified employees with a disability. It assists with investigations of employee ADA claims, and assists with responses to EEOC and CCRD requests for information. CEORM conducts ADA compliance training in accordance with applicable laws.

CEORM assists managers to be right through: Risk Assessments, Threat Assessments, Model Programs, Consultation, Training, Audits, and Management Assistance Teams. Program Management is accomplished through: CDHS Risk Management Planning Council, CDHS Safety Advisory Committee, and District User Groups. CEORM provides consultation to Appointing Authorities and Supervisors in Safety and Workplace Violence matters. It either provides oversight for Appointing Authorities and Supervisors as they conduct investigations or conducts such on behalf of Appointing Authorities and Supervisors, as necessary.

CEORM admisters a Fire Safety Program to ensure the safety of residents, employees, visitors, and property from smoke and fire and to provide for the safe use of buildings and grounds. Such is accomplished through a combination of training, fire-proofing the workplace, early detection of fire hazards, and proper maintenance of fire equipment.

CEORM uses ergonomic principles to help improve work environments, systems, tasks, methods and equipment for safer and more effective use and to reduce the potential for any types of injuries. It employs several methods to decrease the likelihood of such injuries including: Ergonomic coordinator training, special training sessions for groups or work units, Ergonomic assessments, and safety coordinator development through seminars and Injury prevention initiatives.